Integrating Endogenous Principles into Ghana’s Decentralised Planning: Pathways for Sustainable Local Development

Abstract

Ghana’s decentralised planning framework, established to promote participatory and context-responsive development, has evolved significantly over the past three decades. However, despite progressive legal and institutional reforms, district-level planning processes continue to be dominated by technocratic and externally driven approaches. A critical concern is the persistent neglect of local knowledge systems, traditional governance institutions, and indigenous development values in formal planning mechanisms. This article explores the prospects for integrating endogenous development (ED) principles into Ghana’s decentralised planning architecture as a strategy for achieving sustainable and inclusive local development. Drawing on a qualitative case study approach, the research investigates three selected District/Municipal Assemblies: Savelugu, Atwima Nwabiagya North, and Nzema East. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and analysis of local policy documents. Thematic content analysis was employed to synthesise the findings. The study reveals that local communities conceptualise development in culturally grounded terms, emphasising wellbeing, communal resilience, and ecological harmony. Although sporadic efforts exist to incorporate indigenous knowledge into development strategies, systemic constraints such as technocratic bias, donor conditionalities, and weak institutional capacity hinder their integration. The article proposes pathways including institutional reforms, capacity building, and improved policy coherence to bridge the gap between formal planning and community realities. The findings highlight the need to rethink existing planning paradigms and advocate for a more inclusive, pluralistic approach that leverages local agency and knowledge for sustainable development in Ghana and comparable African contexts.

Keywords: Endogenous Development, Decentralised Planning, Ghana, Indigenous Knowledge, Local Governance, Sustainability

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/15-2-05

Publication date: May 30^th 2025